Dislocated Elbow

Symptoms of a dislocated elbow can include severe pain in the elbow, swelling, and inability to bend your arm, there will also be obvious distortion of the joint in some cases, you may lose feeling in your hand.

A dislocated elbow occurs when the bones that make up the elbow joint are forced out of alignment – typically when you land on an outstretched hand during a fall.

The elbow is the most commonly dislocated joint in children and is sometimes known as a pulled elbow if they are swung or lifted by their forearms.

Elbow dislocations are treated by keeping the elbow immobile in a splint or sling for 1 to 3 weeks, followed by early motion exercises. If the elbow is kept immobile for a long time, the ability to move the elbow fully (range of motion) may be affected.